But that wasn’t the first time yesterday I felt overwhelmed with emotion.

Which is surprising because anyone who knows me, knows me to be kind and warm, but definitely not overly emotional. I think emotions are perfectly fine, I've just never been one to cry at the drop of a hat (unless it’s a 30 second commercial or when you’re actually not supposed to cry, like at the movie 'Creed,' lol)—maybe it’s the Boston Catholic thing, we were kind of brought up to keep our emotions on lockdown, I don’t know.

Anyway, yesterday BEFORE we got to the Auckland airport, that morning I was working in bed and Neghar brought me over a cup of coffee, with cream in it, to my bedside table, and even brought my Liquid Stevia bottle I brought with me on the trip, lol. Neg doesn’t use cream or sweetener, but she knew I did and made up my coffee for me.

She says it’s #MomStatus—that nurturing part of her—and I guess it is, but aside from that, she’s one of the most thoughtful people I know.

On the other hand, I tend to be an every-man-for-himself type, and to be honest with you, I don’t consider myself the most thoughtful person pretty much because I am always head-down in grind mode. Which is fine, it’s why I get a lot of shit done, but it also naturally makes me less likely to be as conscientious.

Well, as we are in the cab heading to the airport, I am remembering her thoughtful gesture from the morning (and many more on the trip)--that, combined with feeling the enormity of what my life has been over the last several years, including some very real struggles and also huge successes--within a span of 20 seconds, I felt this immense sense of gratitude and emotion wash over me, and I started crying right there in that taxi!

Then I turned to Neghar and said, “Thank you for being so sweet to me this morning, you have been such a good friend to me these past few years. It means so much to me, thank you. I love you.”

Look, I’ve been traveling with Neghar for the last 4 weeks. And not that I didn’t know this already, but when you are basically in each other’s faces day in and day out, living in hotel rooms and traveling together, you know if the person is truly a good friend or not. We both confirmed that we are indeed not sick of one another yet (ha!), and it’s rare to have a friendship as strong as we do.

Man, I feel grateful!

And as awkward as I could have made it with Neg, I am so glad I told her what she meant to me in that tiny moment.

I didn’t let the moment pass.

I didn’t try to hide my emotion.

I didn’t try not to cry.

I didn’t try to play it cool or keep it together.

And I did it from a simple place of honoring who she is in the world and who she has been to me. I am so glad I didn’t let the words get stuck in my throat.

I’m glad I honored my emotion, and as a result was able to honor my friend.

I love these moments, as infrequent as they are, because they help me develop vulnerability and feel comfortable expressing my struggles.

I wasn’t always like that. In fact, for most of my life I was a perfectionist—never allowing others to get too close for fear that they’d see the bad stuff, the stuff that was not-so-perfect. Because then they’d find out that I didn’t have it all together, they’d see that at times I struggled. And they'd see that I … gulp … might need a little help.

I am getting goose bumps just writing that! It’s such a powerful practice. And yikes, it’s so hard!

But when I look around at the friends and family I have in my life, I cannot help but be overcome with gratitude for those relationships, the ones I nurtured precisely because I was able to go to them, share my not-so-awesome stuff and trust them enough to be there for me.

And they were.

So don’t let moments of gratitude pass by without acknowledging it. And not just to yourself! But to others.

SAY that thing that is dying to get out. Give praise freely, tell people you love them, pay them compliments and—the hardest of all—let them in on your vulnerabilities and ask if they can be there for you.

Yes, it’s awkward! Yes, it’s uncomfortable! Yes, it feels like you are sticking your neck out!

That’s because you are.

That’s what vulnerability does. And when someone can show up for you in those moments, don’t let it go unappreciated.

People think vulnerability is weakness. It’s actually the opposite.

And that doesn’t happen without a lot of consistent courage.

Give yourself the experiences. Struggle through some shit. Put yourself in those awkward scenarios. Tell people exactly how you feel. Give compliments freely.

It’s not for them, but for you!

It’s in the giving that we receive. Zero expectations.

When was the last time you gave of yourself?  Opening up and letting people see the real you is the ultimate gift. And who knows, it might inspire others to do the same? And that’s what deepens a relationship.

I would love for you to put yourself out there a bit this week, put yourself into that super uncomfortable situation, have the full experience and the consequent fallout, survive that shit and then email me the story of it all ;) I look forward to receiving it!

I hope you are having a great week. Know that you are one person in my life that I appreciate greatly. THANK YOU for being here, for being open and for being uniquely YOU.

Xo,

Jill

P.S. And just a quick reminder: the FREE Women’s Strength Summit online begins TODAY!  30+ health, fitness, nutrition and mindset pros are coming together (including some of my favs like Neg, Jen Sinkler, Nia Shanks and others) to deliver topnotch interviews, chock full of insights and tools! I’ll be speaking on mindset and #moderation365—GRAB YOUR FREE SPOT HERE.